Rangers to appeal against Diomande dismissal as furious boss Clement demands answers from SFA
Rangers to appeal against Diomande dismissal as furious boss Clement demands answers from SFA
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Rangers boss Philippe Clement is on a collision course with the SFA over a controversial red card shown to Mohamed Diomande for violent conduct in his team’s 3-1 win over Dundee United. Trailing to Sam Dalby’s opener, Diomande’s first-half equaliser was the catalyst for the Ibrox side to strike back through second-half goals from Robin Propper and Cyriel Dessers and secure their first away win in the league since December 10.
![[Diomande aimed a slap at Kevin Holt, missing his face, after the United defender had pushed him]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/26/20/94537883-14327577-Diomande_aimed_a_slap_at_Kevin_Holt_missing_his_face_after_the_U-a-60_1737923932827.jpg)
But the manager vowed to appeal after referee Nick Walsh stood by his decision to send off Diomande in the dying minutes despite a referral to the pitchside monitor by VAR Don Robertson. Diomande had aimed a slap at Kevin Holt, missing his face, after the United defender pushed him.
![[Philippe Clement cannot understand why Nick Walsh stood by his decision after a VAR check]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/26/20/94537985-14327577-Philippe_Clement_cannot_understand_why_Nick_Walsh_stood_by_his_d-m-62_1737923969712.jpg)
Clement felt a yellow card would have sufficed but, in guidance provided to the BBC, the SFA later explained: ‘Nick Walsh has taken the view that there was a deliberate swing of the arm towards the face of an opponent, which was not negligible, and therefore constitutes violent conduct.’.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd described the decision as ‘embarrassing’ on Sky Sports, and Clement agreed, saying: ‘I totally don’t understand the red card. I think the VAR also didn’t understand the red card, otherwise they don’t ask the referee to come to watch the screen.
Mohamed Diomande protests his innocence after being shown a red card at Tannadice. Diomande aimed a slap at Kevin Holt, missing his face, after the United defender had pushed him. 'So Dio gets pushed, pushed away, so there’s violent contact towards him in the push, and he falls back, and he has a small reaction with his hands, not touching anybody.
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